by Ian Donnis and Scott MacKay

Gemma staffer says he left campaign due to homophobia

Joseph Lazzerini, who says he was Anthony Gemma’s field director and a paid staffer until he quit August 8, says in a statement released moments ago that he left the campaign because of a homophobic atmosphere at the Gemma campaign office.

Lazzerini, formerly of Providence, says he now lives in South Attleboro.

His statement reads:

“I’ve been following the unfortunate events that unfolded today between the Gemma campaign and the Democratic Party of Rhode Island. As a former Gemma campaign staffer, I felt it was important to issue the following statement:’’

“This kind of hurtful, intolerant smear has no place in electoral politics. Unfortunately, it’s not the first time I heard someone in the Gemma campaign make such a suggestion about David Cicilline. It made me uncomfortable and I communicated to my direct supervisor that I felt this effort was moving the campaign in the wrong direction – both tactically and morally. Ultimately, the fact that the Gemma team continued to pursue this line of inappropriate messaging was a major part of why I resigned.’’

“The attitude that Mr. Sionni communicated today is pervasive in the Gemma organization,’’ states Lazzerini. “As an openly gay man I am well aware of the ignorant implications often directed towards the LBGT community and I am incredibly they would stoop to such low depths in order to win a campaign.’’

Lazzerini said he was scheduled to hoist a fund-raiser for Gemma Wednesday but says he “will no longer be having any involvement with the Gemma campaign.’’

Anthony Sionni you’re an idiot. You can’t speak to save your life and your ignorance is bliss. Get out of politics and get your ass out and look for a job. You’re using the unemployment system instead of job hunting you wasteless pice of space on this thing we call earth.

He does not say that Gemma is a Homphobe that was a title writen by the author of the article to try and spin the story what Mr. Lazzerini says is that comments such as “Sandusky Copy Cat” were comments often said throughout Gemma’s campaign. Read deeper into the story.